Thursday, January 5, 2017

Nota Bene: Campus Master Planning Nears Completion

A year ago, I announced a $350,000 grant from an anonymous donor to facilitate a comprehensive campus facilities condition assessment. The grant included the formulation of a space utilization study, corrective maintenance plan, and campus master plan. Thank you to all of our stakeholders—including Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the College—who took part in our roundtable discussions to review the final draft of our Campus Master Plan. Thanks also to the Virginia Beach City Council for their participation in the process. The level of engagement and thoughtful discussion by all of our constituents is very much appreciated. 

The planning process began in late January 2016 with extensive data collection and analysis. An outside facilitator then worked with the Campus Master Planning Committee to identify future anticipated facility needs, new or expanded programs that might require space, the arrival experience, strategic land use, future residential needs and improvements and upgrades to existing facilities. You can learn more about this process and the planning committee at: http://www.vwc.edu/about-us/president-and-leadership/campus-master-planning-committee.php

A space-utilization study has been completed, a corrective maintenance plan has been drafted, and a 10-year Campus Master Plan is on track for completion in February. Thank you to our anonymous donor for funding this critical function, and thanks also to Comprehensive Facilities Planning, Inc., of Columbus, Ohio, Aramark Engineering Solutions of Philadelphia, Derck & Edson of Lititz, Pennsylvania, and the Campus Master Planning Committee for their hard work on this crucial project.

The next phase in the process will be the initiation and formulation of a new comprehensive strategic master plan in mid-spring, including a new vision statement. I value your continued input as we work collaboratively to develop plans for our foreseeable future and will share the final document when it is available.